After the death of Satya Sai in 2011, a day of mourning was declared in the National Assembly of Venezuela.
After the US military action and the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, the discussion about Sri Sathya Sai International Organization has intensified. This organization is in the headlines. The number of Sai devotees in Venezuela is the highest in any Latin American country. The organization’s teachings emphasize truth, righteousness, and nonviolence, and the US action against Maduro is just the opposite. Maduro and his wife came to India in 2005 and met Sai Baba. The pictures of that time are also viral nowadays.
Sai Baba had a special influence in Venezuela. After his death in 2011, a day of mourning was declared in the National Assembly. During his tenure, Maduro gave this organization complete freedom to work in the country, while many NGOs were also shown the way out of the country. Acting President Delsey Rodriguez has also visited Sai Baba’s ashram in India.
Since Sai Baba is originally from India and his education and service are being discussed all over the world including Venezuela, then it is important to know the answers to some questions. For example, what does Sathya Sai’s organization do in Venezuela, how many centers are there, how many big personalities are its supporters? How to become a member, do you even charge fees? Come, let us know.
How many centers of Sathya Sai Organization in Venezuela?
In Venezuela the organization inspired by Sri Sathya Sai Baba is generally seen as the local unit of Sri Sathya Sai International Organization (SSSIO). This organization considers itself a voluntary platform based on human values, service and spiritual practice. This network has been present in Venezuela for several decades and works in different cities of the country. There are about 30 centers related to this in Venezuela, which means this activity is not limited to one or two cities, but is spread at the national level.
Nicolas Maduro had reached the shelter of Satya Sai Baba.
What does the organization do in Venezuela?
- The activities of this organization generally Are organized into three big areas. Devotion, spiritual practice, human-value education, and social service. The same framework is considered applicable in the context of Venezuela. The nature of bus operations may vary depending on local needs and available volunteers.
- Weekly/Regular Spiritual Activities: Under this, meetings like bhajan, prayer, meditation and group-satsang, dialogue on topics like truth, non-violence, love, peace, religion etc. In many Sai centres, people from different religious backgrounds sit together. The aim of this organization is not to change religion, but to develop morality, self-reflection and service spirit.
- Human Values Education (Education in Human Values): Value based activities for children, youth like character building, discipline, compassion, responsibility. Workshops on enhancing family and community harmony; in some countries this program is run through schools, community centers or volunteer platforms; Its reality in Venezuela may differ from center to center.
- Service work: Work like assistance for the needy, food, medicine, community help can be done at the local level. In the declared ideology of the organization, service is considered the main medium of spiritual progress, that is, work does not stop only at worship, but emphasis is on doing something for the society.
There is no membership fee to join Sai Centre.
How many big celebrities are supporters of Venezuela?
According to reports, about 30 centers or small groups associated with Sri Sathya Sai Baba are active in Venezuela. This means that the network is quite large and is spread across the country. Small groups are active in different areas of the country and there are also formal centers in big cities. Keep in mind, the actual number of centers may increase or decrease over time. Processes like formation of new groups, some groups becoming inactive, or merger etc. are in front.
Important people like Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores, current acting President Delsey Rodriguez, who were victims of the recent US military action, are said to be devotees of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. It is natural that when such influential people of a country follow someone, then their supporters also automatically become followers.
The same thing applies in Venezuela regarding Sai Baba. However, the definition of the word devotee or supporter should be understood carefully. A person can be a devotee, but it is not necessary that he be a formal official of the organization. The conclusion is that the association of Sathya Sai movement with high-level political identity in Venezuela is visible in public reports, but it is difficult to give the exact figure as to how many celebrities are supporters.
Photo of Venezuela’s interim President Delsey Rodriguez’s visit to Sathya Sai Ashram.
How to become a member?
The structure of the organization is generally said to be based on open participation. That is, the path to becoming a member does not begin with any expensive or difficult process, but with regular participation in the local Sai Center or group. Generally the process can be understood like this. Getting information about Sai Center in your city or area, participating in weekly meeting, bhajan, prayer, study circle or service activity for some time, understanding the rules and service vision of the centre, once the interest is stable, the local coordinator, servant can tell you opportunities for volunteerism or organizational role. In many places, membership may also mean adding one’s name to a list or register, but the basic idea remains that the organization is voluntary and values the individual’s commitment, character and spirit of service.
What fees do you charge?
This point has been declared most clearly. There is no membership fee to join Sai Centre. No fees are charged for any center activity. Raising funds by asking for donations from the public is said to be not in accordance with the organization’s policy. In practice, like many voluntary organizations, here too there may be administrative expenses for some activities, such as hall rent, materials, logistics of service work, but as per the declared policy these are not made as mandatory charges. If a fixed fee or mandatory subscription is asked for, it can be seen as a question in the context of the declared global policy of the organization.
What explains the form of organization in Venezuela?
The form of Sathya Sai organization in Venezuela looks like a wide network with its centers spread in different areas of the entire country. Its work is not limited to spiritual meetings. It also goes along with human value education and service work. Some big political names among supporting celebrities appear in public reports, which increases its socio-political visibility.
Also read: How Venezuela became a stronghold of Sathya Sai devotees? Maduro bows to interim President Delsey